A State Mandated Access Card allows an individual who lives in an area in Nassau County which does not currently support local public library service to borrow materials from the member libraries of the Nassau Library System. These cards are an interim accommodation while mechanisms can be put into place so that all Nassau County residents are able to contribute their fair share of tax support for public libraries.
Residents of these areas need to obtain State Mandated Access Cards to borrow materials from public libraries in Nassau: Bellerose Village; Bellerose Terrace; Floral Park Centre; Old Westbury (the portion of the village located in the East Williston School District); the Cathedral Gardens section of Hempstead (the portion not located in Hempstead Village but in the Hempstead School District); and the area that was served by the former Brookville Elementary School District (which includes the parts of Brookville, Matinecock, Muttontown, Old Brookville and Upper Brookville that are in the Locust Valley School District).
How to Apply for a NLS State Mandated Access Card?
In order to apply for a card, you must go in person to either the East Meadow Public Library or the Levittown Public Library. If you have a disability that makes it difficult to go in person, contact the Nassau Library System at 292-8920, extension 221.
You will need to provide proof of your identity and residency in one of the untaxed-for-library-services areas in Nassau County. You will also be asked to indicate the school district in which you reside. Please be sure to bring one of the following original forms of identification with you when you go to the East Meadow or Levittown Public Libraries to register. To be acceptable, an ID must include both your name and current address.
- NYS Photo Drivers License / Permit / Non-Driver ID
- NYS Motor Vehicle Registration
- Property Tax Bill
- Lease, Rental Agreement or Mortgage Papers
- Voter Registration Card
- Bank Statement
- School ID Cards
- Other Bills
Limitations:
- Because the State will not allow a fee to be charged for these cards and because the individuals issued these cards are not currently taxed for local library service, the State has approved some limitations on their use.
- Libraries with a high volume of use by individuals who reside outside of their taxing areas are not required to loan recently acquired books or audiovisual materials (videos, CD’s, books-on-cassette, etc.) to non-residents.
- Libraries may also give preference to their own local cardholders for the onsite use of computers and library program attendance.
- Materials may not be reserved with these cards. Interlibrary loans are available to State Mandated Access Cardholders via the Levittown Library only.
- The use of State Mandated Access Cards is, therefore, subject to the rules and regulations of each library at which they are presented. The member libraries of the Nassau Library System are autonomous and each establishes its own policies and procedures.
- Lastly, where excessive use by non-residents can be documented, a library does not have to honor State Mandated Access Cards.
Residents of Areas with Contracts for Public Library Service:
Residents of the following areas (which do not have their own local public library but have voted to tax themselves for public library service via a contract for service with an existing nearby library) do not have to obtain State Mandated Access Cards. Instead they may obtain library cards issued by at their contract library, which entitle them to all of the rights and privileges as that library’s local residents.
Area | Contract Library |
---|---|
Bay Park | East Rockaway Public Library |
Carle Place (Carle Place School District minus the part in Mineola Village) |
Westbury Public Library |
East Franklin Square (Part of Franklin Sq in Valley Stream School District 13) |
Elmont Memorial Public Library |
Fernwood Terrace (portion of Stewart Manor Village that is not in the Elmont School District) |
Garden City Public Library |
Hewlett Harbor (part of the Hewlett Harbor Village in the Lynbrook School District) |
Lynbrook Public Library |
Mill Brook (aka South Valley Stream & Green Acres) |
Valley Stream Public Library (Henry Waldinger Memorial Library) |
“North” Malverne (unincorporated part of Malverne) |
Malverne Public Library |
North Lynbrook (not in Lynbrook Village and in the Malverne School District) |
Malverne Public Library |
North Valley Stream (In Valley Stream School District 13 but not in Valley Stream Village) |
Elmont Memorial Public Library |
South Lynbrook (in Lynbrook School District but not in Lynbrook Village) |
Lynbrook Public Library |